Combined plow



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. H. WHITNEY. COMBINED PLOW, PLANTER, AND GULTIVATOR.

No. 605,767. Patented June 14,1898.

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(No Model.)

(J. H. WHITNEY. COMBINED PLOW, PLANTER, AND OULTIVATOR.

No. 605,767. Patented June 14,1898.

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' UNITED STATnsv PATENT Cranes- CHARLES H. WHITNEY, OF COOKE VILLE,TENNESSEE.

COMBINED PLOW, PLANTE R, AND CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,767, dated June 14;1898.

Application filed February 4,1898. Serial No. 669,056. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES H. WHITNEY,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Cookeville, in the countyof Putnam and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a Combined Plow, Planter, and Cultivator; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention is directed to improvements in agricultural appliances,and has for its object the production of a simply and durablyconstructed machine which is adapted to perform in a highly efficientmanner the operations of plowing, planting, and cultivating, therebydispensing with the necessity of employing a separate machine for theperformance of each of the stated acts, and thereby materially reducingthe time and labor incident to the utilization of the present methods.

The. invention consists in the construction and relative arrangement andoperation of the several parts of the machine, all of which will befound fully and clearly set forth in and by the following descriptionandspecifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figurel is aside elevation of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is atop plan view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in line 4 4of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top plan view. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailsectional view of a seed ring and drill. Fig. dis a detail view of thebrake-lever and its locking-guide.

Referring to the said drawings by letter, A denotes the 'main frame ofthe machine, which comprises the side bars a a, the end cross-bars a. aand the centrally-disposed draft-beams a 0. to the forward end of whichlatter is secured the draft-hook or clevis 1). Between the draft-beamsand at or about the longitudinal center of the frame is a singlesupporting and driving wheel C, provided at 5o'opposite sides with hubsc c, journaled in bearings in the under side of the beams, and from saidhubs extend shaft-axles c c, journaled in bearings 01 din the under sideof the side bars a and a The bearingsd are constructed and applied to beremoved from the frame and the axles without disturbing the latter, fora purpose to be presently explained. 0. a are transversely-disposed barssecured to the side bars and draft-beams at each side of the axle andparallel thereto. On the under side of each of the rear bars a issecured a rod e, and at the outer side of each of the forward bars a issecured a rod e.

- F F denote the seed-hoppers, supported at opposite sides of the frameon the bars a and held in position by inclined blocks a a on the beams aCentrally of the hopper is a deflecting-plate f, which directs thegrain,seed, or other contents of the hopper equally to the lowerdischarge-openings f f. -Removably secured on the axles are seed-rings gg, which occupy the openings f of the hopper and operate to feed theseed in predetermined quantity to the drills. Each'of the seed-ringsg-is provided with a plurality of seed-cups g g, which are in the natureof re cesses or depressions formed equidistant in the periphery of thering, and means are provided for adjusting the depth of the cupsconsisting of set-screws g 9 which by reference to Fig. 5 may be turnedto provide any desired depth of cup or to entirely close the same. Thisfeature of adjustment enables the operator to vary the number orcharacter of seed to be planted and also by closing certain of the cupsto vary the distance between the deposits, thereby greatly enhancing theefficiency of the machine and enabling the planting of different kindsof seed, or in lieu of employing the improved seed ring described ringsof ordinary construction may be used, and when a change in the characterof seed or in the distance between deposits is desired other rings maybe substituted. It is to effect this substitution that I employ theremovable bearings 01 for the axles c. Said bearings are, as previouslystated, secured to the under side of the side bars a, screws beingemployed for this purpose, and when the screws are withdrawn thebearings are slid transversely, leaving the end of the axle free andpermitting the seed-rings to be withdrawn and other rings to beinserted. This construction of bearing has also another advantage, ofwhich mention will be presently made. 'The seedlings are prevented fromturning on the shaft by keys g which engage a groove 0 formed lengthwisein the axle c. Secured to the hoppers at their openings are brushes 7171, which contact with the seed-rings and preclude the retention in thecups of an excess of seed. This brush,which is preferably of rubber,also reduces to the minimum the liability of the seed becoming fracturedor broken.

I I denote the drills, which are supported from the bars a and areconcaved at their upper ends to afford close contact with theseed-rings, whereby the latter discharge directly into thedrill-passage. Each of the drills carries at its upper rear side a hook21, which engages the rod 6, and at the forward side of the drill is anapertured lug i, which engages a staple e on a plate a, swiveled on thebar 0. A break-pin is passed through the staple and completes theengagement. 0' is a set-screw for securing the plate 6 This manner ofsecuring the drills enables them to be readily disconnected, and theemployment of the pins e, which are of wood, results in the saving ofthe drills intact when subjected to undue strain, as any extraordinaryshock will cause the pins to break and release the drill, as will beunderstood. Another advantage due to the peculiar supporting means forthe drills is that the latter are not rigid with the frame, but have aslight freedom of movement in all directions, whereby they accommodatethemselves to any unevenness of ground or to stones or otherobstructions. The main advantage due to this construction, however, isthat the drills may be adjusted to plant different-spaced rows by beingmoved to or from each other, such adjustment being made possible owingto the facility with which the drills, their hooks, and the plates 6 maybe slid along the bars a and c. This ad justable feature of the drillsis of vast importance, as the capabilities of the machine are therebylargely increased, and where but narrow-spaced rows are required it isobvious that additional drills may be inserted, it being understood thatwith every additional drill a new seed-ring is required and that everyfacility is afforded whereby the change can be made.

Intermediate of the drills is provided a coverer j of tooth form andprovided with a shank j, held between the rod e and bar a and aperturedat its end for connection with a staple carried by a plate 7;, hung onthe bar a in a manner similar to the plates A break-pin 7t completes theconnection. The coverer thus supported is capable of vibration for thepurpose of accommodating itself to inequalities or obstructions, butmore for the purpose of enhancing the covering operation, as the eovereris thus enabled to travel from side to side, instead of in the directline which would result in the use of a rigidlymounted coverer. To therear of the wheel C is a covererfi, also of tooth form, secured to theunder side of one of the beams.

The machine is designed to be propelled by a horse or other animal andis guided by handles Z Z, grasped by the operator or driver. Thehandle-bars extend forwardly and are secured to the beams at the frontof the frame and elevated at the rear by a standard on and a cross-barn, the standard being secured at its lower end to the rear bar a. Themachine, as before stated, is supported on a single central wheel C, andsaid wheel is employed to rotate the seed-rings and thereby feed theseed to the drills. The employment of a single wheel enables the machineto be readily propelled and guided and readily turned. For turning themachine, however, I prefer to employ a caster-wheel 0, which is, whenidle, elevated above the tread of the wheel 0, but which is adapted tobe brought below said wheel 0 to bring the latter above the ground andthereby cut off the seed deposits. The wheel 0 to this end is mounted inthe lower end of a curved arm 0, which is movable in a guide 0 on theframe and connected at its upper end to a lever 0 said lever beingpivoted on a rod 0 on the handlebars. The other end of the lever isconfined in a guide-slot m in the standard m and is adapted to be heldin its raised and lowered positions by engaging offsets m m of the sloton. One of the sides of each of the offsets is inclined and is inengaged by a corresponding inclination Z, formed in the lever, wherebythe latter is locked against accidental dislodgment. The lever carriesnear its forward end a brake-shoe p, which is brought into engagementwith the wheel 0 when the lever is moved to lower the caster-wheel, theobject being to lock the wheel 0 against rotation while the machine isbeing turned on the wheel 0. Under ordinary circumstances the locking ofthe wheel C is necessary, as in turning said wheel is free from contactwith the ground. lVhere the ground is rough or uneven, however, there isliability of the wheel 0 contacting with an elevation, and if no meanswere provided for lockin it against rotation seed deposits would result.

From the foregoing it will be observed that every provision is made toinsure effectiveness of operation and increased capabilities.

The machine combines in its construction all of the essentials which goto make a plow, a planter or seeder, and a cultivator, and yet by theemployment of so few and simply-constructed parts as will enable themachine to be cheaply made and to be durable and not liable to disorder.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a machine of the class described, thecombination of a frame, a wheel supporting said frame, axles carried bythe wheel and j ournaled in bearings the outer ones of which arelaterally removable whereby the ends of the axle may be free, seed-ringsslidably adjustable and removably mounted on the axles,

seed-hoppers above the rings, and drills at said rings adjustablysecured to the frame, substantially as set forth.

' 2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, aWheel supporting said frame, axles carried by the wheel and journaled inbearings the outer ones of which are laterally removable whereby theends of the axle ma be free, seed-rings adjustably and remova ly mountedon the axles, seedhoppers above the rings having deflectors and brushesas described, and drills having concaved upper ends located at therings, said drills being adjustably and removably secured to the frame,substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, awheel supporting said frame, axles carried by the wheel and jou'rnaledin bearings the outer ones of which are laterally removable whereby theends of the axles may be free, seed-rings mounted on the axles to beadjusted and removed longi tudinally thereof, each seed-ring havingseedcups and setscrews therein to adjust the depth thereof, seed-hoppersabove the rings, drills at said rings, coverers at the rear of thedrills, and means for adj ustably and removably attaching said drillsand coverers to the frame to permit of vibration, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a framecarrying transverse rods, of a drill provided at its upper end with ahook slidably and removably connected with one of the rods, a plateslidably connected with the other rod and carrying a setscrew andstaple, an eye on the drill engaging the staple, and a break-pin for thelatter, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame anda single sup porting-wheel therefor, of a caster-wheel in advance of theaforesaid wheel, a lever for elevating and depressing said wheel asdescribed, and means for locking the lever in its positions,substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame anda single supporting-wheel therefor, of a caster-Wheel in' advance of theaforesaid wheel, carried by an arm, a lever'connected to said arm, abrakeshoe carried by the lever and adapted to be brought into engagementwith the supportin g-wheel when the caster-wheel is depressed, and meansfor locking the lever consisting of a slotted guide having offsetsprovided with inclined sides, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

W. T. N ORTON, ARTHUR BROWNING.

